A. Local SEO and its importance for businesses targeting a geographically defined area

Local SEO (search engine optimization) such a process, which helps businesses improve their online visibility in local search results. Local SEO is especially important for businesses targeting a geographically defined area, as these firms often rely on customers in the immediate vicinity for revenue and growth.

According to a 2018 BrightLocal survey, 97% of adult Internet users search online to find local businesses, and 86% use search engines to find local information. Emellett a Think With Google according to the data of “nearby” searches have more than doubled in recent years. This statistic shows that, that the local SEO how important the small is- and for medium-sized enterprises.

B. Mention of the increase in local search queries and increased competition among local businesses

The increase in the number of local search queries and the increase in competition between local businesses indicate that, that businesses should pay special attention to local SEO in order to do so, to stand out from the crowd and attract potential customers.

According to Google data, the “nearby” search growth rate in 2019 exceeded the general search growth rate by 150%. Additionally, according to Mediative research, businesses that rank first in local search results have an average click-through rate of 33%, which points to the importance of local SEO for traffic and customer acquisition.

Hence local SEO strategies its application and development is essential for businesses, that want to grow and remain competitive in a specific geographic area.

Local SEO statistics and trends

    • A. Local searches have a big impact on business traffic and revenue. According to Google, 88% of users who perform a local search on a mobile phone visit the store found in the search within a day. Furthermore, 28% of these users make a purchase during the visit.
    • B. Mobile search statistics and their impact on local SEO

The growth of mobile searches has a significant impact on local SEO. According to Google, mobile searches will account for 63% of all search traffic by 2021. Users often search for local businesses on the go, thus, mobile-friendly websites and local SEO are essential to reach potential customers.

According to BrightLocal research, 61% of local businesses feel the same way, that they gained more customers thanks to their mobile-friendly website. This means, that considering mobile search trends is essential when developing a local SEO strategy.

  • C. A “nearby” searches and the role of voice search in local SEO

A “nearby” obsession “near me” searches, in which users search for businesses, which are located in the immediate vicinity, have shown explosive growth in recent years. According to Google, the “nearby” search growth rate exceeded the general search growth rate by 150%.

In addition, voice search is also becoming increasingly important for local SEO. According to Comscore, by 2020 voice searches accounted for 50% of all search queries. Voice search often requires location-specific information, therefore, it is important to use location-specific keywords and location-specific information for local SEO.

In summary, local SEO statistics and trends show, that businesses should focus on the growth rate of local searches, the importance of mobile searches and the growing role of voice-based searches. Applying and developing local SEO strategies is essential for businesses, that want to grow and remain competitive in a specific geographic area. A “nearby” searches, using mobile-friendly websites and location-specific keywords can help businesses stand out from the crowd and attract potential customers.

Effective local SEO tips and tactics

    • A. Requesting and optimizing Google My Business listing

Add accurate and up-to-date business information: We will check, that our business is available, it's title, opening hours and other information are accurate and up-to-date. Post updates and communicate with customers: We use the Google My Business platform to publish posts, to advertise events and communicate with customers.

    • B. Collection and management of customer reviews

Encouraging satisfied customers to write reviews: Please our satisfied customers, to write positive reviews about our business.
Professional and quick response to reviews: Respond to customer reviews politely and helpfully, even for negative reviews.

    • C. Website optimization for local search

Use location-specific keywords in your content and meta tags: We integrate the local keywords in the content and meta tags of our website, to get better results in local search.

Application of scheme marking related to local businesses: Use a schema to display information relevant to local businesses, for example address, phone number and opening hours.

Write blog posts about local events or news: Share content related to local events or news, to be more attractive to local audiences.

Create location-specific landing pages: Create landing pages for individual cities or regions, to increase the number of local visitors.

    • E. Create local references and links

Visiting local websites and review sites: Apply on local web and review sites, to increase the visibility of our business online.

Collaborating with other local businesses for cross-promotion: Connect with other local businesses, and work with them on joint marketing campaigns, to increase each other's online visibility and customer base.

    • F. Using social media for local engagement

Using geo-targeted advertising to reach potential customers: Use geo-targeted ads on social media, to reach local customers in a targeted manner and increase the awareness of our business.

Participation in local groups and discussions: Join local social media groups and participate in discussions, to increase the recognition of our business and build relationships in the community.

Measuring the effectiveness of your local SEO efforts

    • A. Track local search rankings and traffic

Let's use SEO tools, such as Google Search Console or Moz, to track our local search rankings and traffic to our website. This helps us spot progress and opportunities to optimize our local SEO strategy.

    • B. Track conversions from local search visitors

Set up conversion tracking using Google Analytics or other web analytics tools, to measure conversions of local search visitors. This is how we can see it, how effective our local SEO efforts are in achieving our goals.

    • C. Using Google My Business insights to analyze customer behavior

We use Google My Business Insights, to gain a deeper understanding of customer behavior. We can track customer searches with our analytics, on which day and time they searched for us the most, and what types of actions have been taken on our listing (pl. call, route planning etc.). This information can help you with that, to better understand, how our local SEO efforts are impacting our relationship with customers.

Summary

    • A. Summary of the importance of local SEO for businesses targeting a geographically defined area

Local SEO is crucial for businesses competing in the local market, as it helps you reach your target audience, increase visibility and gain an edge over competitors.

    • B. Encouragement to use the tips and tactics shared in this post

Let's encourage readers, to apply the tips and tactics shared in this article, to improve their local SEO efforts and increase the success of their business.

    • C. Inviting readers to share their experiences and questions in the comments

Please readers, to share their experiences and possible questions in the comments section, to build a community, where businesses can learn from each other and help each other to increase the effectiveness of local SEO.

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